Clothespin



Feb. 22, 1938.

CLOTHESPIN Filed March 4, 1937 3mm 2545 bm D. w. HILDERBRANT 4 ,023

Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in metal clothespins.

An object of the invention is to provide a clothespin composed of a single strand of wire,

5 that can be economically made and which will function more satisfactory than clothespins now in commercial use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device that can be quickly and easily attached 10 or removed from the line without being frictionally engaged or disengaged.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and drawing, wherein:-

l5 Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device applied to a clothesline;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, except that the legs have been compressed to permit the clothesline being engaged or disengaged.

20 Figure 3 is an edge view in elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

25 Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts in the different views, In designates a strand of wire which is shaped to form the clothespin. The strand I is provided so with a plurality of loops intermediate of the ends forming coils H and 12. The end portions l3 and i l extend tangentially from the ends of coils H and I2 and incline slightly toward each other. The portion l3 is bent at I and ex- 35 tended towards and beyond the end portion 14 and there bent at l5 to form a loop having parallel sides H5 and I1 providing a guide loop for end portion l4 as best shown in Figure 4. The side portion l? is then bent towards side portion l6 and downwardly as shown at H, then under portion [6 at Il and upwardly at ll, then bent into a hook, l8 having its terminal ending adjacent side I! providing a guide loop as best shown in Figure 5.

45 The member l4 extends up between the sides l6 and ll and is then bent approximately at right angles at [9 to form the portion 20 which extends through and is guided by the loop l8,

l8 as also best shown in Figure 5. The portion 20 is bent downwardly and inwardly at ill and the end is returned on itself and formed into a notch portion 22 which normally rests close to the member l3. 5

Members [3 and M are squeezed toward one another against the resilience of spring coils H and I2. The member M will slide in the guideway formed by the portions l6 and I1 and this movement will cause part 22 to move away from 10 part l3 sufficiently to allow a clothesline 23 to pass between parts l3 and 22, as seen in Figure 2. The parts l3 and 14 are then released and the device assumes its normal position with the clothesline resting in the recess between part 15 2! and part l5, as seen in Figure 1.

The material to be suspended can either be engaged between the coils II and I2 or be hung over the line 23 and will be securely held in either position. To disengage the device, members l3 and M are pushed together and the device lifted off of line 23.

It is to be understood that only the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, the right being reserved to make such changes and modifications as will not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:--

In a clothespin formed of a single strand of resilient wire, a coil intermediate the ends thereof, two substantially parallel legs extending from opposite ends of said coil, a substantially right angled portion extending from the end of one leg toward and beyond the other leg, said substantially right angled portion having at its end a return bend extending toward the coil forming a hook element, said second mentioned leg having at its end a guide comp-rising two loops, one enclosing and normal to the first mentioned leg, the other enclosing and normal to the substantially right angled portion, said hook element and said second leg cooperating to form a recess whereby a clothesline and clothes suspended thereon may be secured and retained, the clothes normally extending downward in a direction parallel to said second leg.

DANIEL W. HILDERBRAN T. 

